The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-08
The Largest Opium Den in China.
From the North China Herald.


The Nan-gin-tsin is the greatest opium
den in China. 1t is situated in the French
concession in Shanghai, within a stones
throw of the wall of the native city, within
which no opium shops are supposed to exist
The throngs visiting it represent all stations
of life, from the coolie to the wealthy mer-
chant or the small mandarin. 1t is with
difficulty that one gets inside through the
crowds of people hanging round the door,
Those who have not the requisite number
of copper cash to procure the baneful pipe
watch with horrible usefulness each of the
more af1uent pass i'll with q nervous,
hurried step, or totter out wearing that
peculiar dazed expression which comes
after the smokers craving has been satisfied
and his transient pleasure has passed away.
One requires a strong stomach to stand the
sickening fumes with which the air inside is
thickened The clouds of smoke, the dim
light from the numerous colored lamps, the
number of reclining forms with distorted
faces bent over the small flames at which
the pipes are lighted, cause the novice q
SicEening sensation.
But us soon as the eye becomes accus-
toned TO the scene it is noticed that the
place is got up on an expensive scale. In the
centre of the lower room hangs one of the
finest OF Chinese lamps, the ceiling is of
richly carved wood, while the painted walls
are thickly inlaid with peculiarly marked
marble, which gives the idea of unfinished
landscape sketches. Numerous doors on all
sides lead to the smokers apartments In
the outer portion of the building stands q
counter covered with little boxes of tho drug
ready for smoking, which dozen assistants
are kept busy handing out to the servants
who wait upon the habitues of the place
The average daily receipts are said to be
about goo. The smoking apartments arc
divided into four classes. In the cheapest
are coolies, who pay about fourpence for
their smoke. In the dearest the smoke costs
about sevenpence. The drug supplied in
each class is much the same both in quality
and quantity; IL is the difference in the
pipes that regulates the price. The best
kinds are made of ivory, the stem being
often inlaid with stones and rendered more
costly by reason of elaborate carving; the
cheapest kinds are made simply of hard
wood.
The rooms also are furnished according TO
class. In the most expensive the lounge
upon which the smoker reclines Is of fine
velvet, with pillows Of the same material;
the frames of each couch are inlaid with
mother-of-pearl and jade, and the whole air
of these rooms is one of sensuous luxury.
There is also number of private rooms
In the poorer section may be seen many
wearers of the tattered yellow and gray
robes of Buddhist aud Tavist priests
Women form a fair proportion of the
smokers. Tho common belief Is that the
opium sleep is attended by a mild, pleasur-
able deliriuIn, with brief glanccs OF Ely
stun; but this Is the exception, not the rule.
People smoke 10 Salty the craving begotten
of previous indulgencee. There Is accom-
mediation for 10 smokers at a time, and
there Is seldom n vacancy very long. The
stream OF smokers goes on from early morn
ing en- midnight whom the place closes; the
clouds Of smoke 80 up incessantly all day
long